White also confirmed the long-rumored Aug. 6 event will take place in
Philadelphia. The city’s Wells Fargo Center is expected to host the
pay-per-view event.

“Verbal agreements are in for a battle between two of the most exciting fighters in the middleweight division,” White told ESPN. “Coming off three straight ‘Fight of the Night’ performances, Yoshihiro Akiyama will take on former UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in Philadelphia.”

Despite his stature in the sport, Akiyama likely finds himself in a must-win situation. Despite a history of entertaining octagon contests, Akiyama has dropped consecutive outings to Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, and his lone UFC win came via controversial split decision in a UFC 100 bout with Alan Belcher.

Belfort fights for the first time since a UFC 126 knockout loss to current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Belfort had been linked to a “UFC: Rio” bout with Wanderlei Silva, but “The Axe Murderer” instead successfully lobbied for a summer matchup with Leben.

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